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The city of Antioch in those days was considered to be a very beautiful city with lush gardens and was surrounded by five giant mountains.

 

Once during that time, Nabi ‘Isa ‘Alayhis Salaam sent two of his companions to propagate religion in this city. Theirs names were Saadiq and Misdaaq. When they reached the outskirts of the town, they met a shepherd whose name was Habeeb Najaar. The shepherd then asked them the reason for their visit and where they had come from. They explained, “We have been sent by Nabi ‘Isa ‘Alayhis Salaam to the people of this city to give them news of the Divine Existence of Allah azza wajal and that they ought to worship Him alone”.

 

The shepherd then asked them whether they had any proof for their claim. They replied that they did have. They said that they could also cure the blind and heal the leper amongst them. Habeeb Najaar then told to them that he had a son who was ill for a very long time and whether it would be possible for them to heal his son. They then ran their hands over his son and he was cured immediately.

 

This news then spread like wild fire across the city and many sick people surrounded these two Muballighs. However, the leader of this city was an idol-worshipper whose name was “Anteekhah.” He became very angry when he heard this news. He then had both of these Muballighs jailed.

 

When Nabi ‘Isa ‘Alayhis Salaam heard about this, he sent one of his trusted companions named “Sham’oun” to have them released. When Sham’oun arrived in the court of the King, he said to the King, “You have arrested both of these people without even listening to them. At least give them an opportunity to present what they have to say.”

 

The King then asked that these Muballighs be presented to him and he also gave them an opportunity to say what they had to say. The Muballighs mentioned, “We have arrived in this city to stop the people from worshipping idols and instruct them to worship One Allah. It is He who has created you and those idols whom you worship.”

 

When the King asked them to present a proof of their claim, they then called forward a person who had no eyes. They then passed their hands over the forehead of this person and two holes appeared on his forehead. They then placed some sand in these holes and they suddenly became eyes through which this person could see!

 

Hadrat Sham’oun then asked the King whether his idols had this power. Obviously, the King replied that his idols did not have such power. Hadrat Sham’oun then asked him to worship the One True Creator whose Divine Power he had just witnessed. The King then asked them whether they could bring back the dead because he had a young man in his court whom he had not yet buried because he was waiting for the boy’s father to arrive.

 

The King then took the three of them to the corpse. After passing their hands over the corpse of this young man and making Du’a to Allah azza wajal, this young man stood up. The young man then informed everyone, “I was an idol-worshipper and after I had died, I had entered the Fire of Hell. Therefore, I say to all of you to bring Imaan and also recite the Kalimah of Nabi ‘Isa ‘Alayhis Salaam. And I also inform you that these three people are also the companions of Nabi ‘Isa ‘Alayhis Salaam.”

 

When the people heard this, they were extremely shocked and at the same time, Habeeb Najaar, the shepherd, also arrived to reveal what he himself had seen. When everyone heard this, all of them accepted Imaan except for a few who remained adamant in their Kufr. As a matter of fact, these same people murdered Habeeb Najaar later on and because of this Divine punishment came on them.

(Tafseer Saawi, 3/265)

 

This very same incident is highlighted in Surah Yaseen, Ruku #2.

 

This episode also highlights to us the difficulties and trial a person goes through when he has to preach and propagate religion. If we look at these two people, Saadiq and Misdaaq, we see that they had to spend time in jail simply because they were spreading religion. However, when a person remains firm and steadfast, then Allah azza wajal certainly does create means and ways for him to be able to overcome his adversaries and his difficulties.